Canon FL SLR Lenses on a Canon RF.

[Nokton48]

Hi All,

I have the FL-version of the Canon 19mm F3.5 lens, which I love to use, it's one of my favorite lenses. You just scale-focus it, and shoot. Very easy and quick to use. I have wanted a 28mm Canon for awhile, but I am somewhat put off by the RF prices, and the fact that I will probably not use it as much as my new Canon RF 25mm. Still, it is a gap in focal length, and I do have a Canon P 28mm Viewfinder, so I am ready to go, just need the lens.

I started investigating some of the other Canon FL SLR lenses, of the vintage for the Canon FX reflex camera. These attach to a Canon rangefinder using the Canon "B" Lens Converter. Based on my good experiences with the Canon FL 19mm, I phoned up KEH and purchased a Canon FL 28mm F3.5, which is quite a bargain at $31. Also got another Converter "B" for $35, and while I was at it, I purchased a Canon FL 35mm FL F2.5, which ran $33.

So now I have a pretty complete set of scale-focusing Canon FX glass. And, they completely match the appearance of my smaller late vintage black RF Canon lenses, since they are retrofocus, they are a bit "scaled-up" in size. But very nice and fun and very straightforward to use.

Has anybody else here ever tried using these on Canon RF bodies? I figure that the 19mm and 28mm will make a nice scale-focusing set to take out and use. And not expensive, either.

 

[Mackinaw]

I use my FL 28/3.5 on my Canon 7 every so often. My FD 15mm fisheye too. I don't use a any sort of accessory viewfinder, I just guess composition, and shoot. FL lenses are generally very good and an inexpensive way to add lenses to a Canon rangefinder camera.

Jim B.

 

[raid]

I use the 19mm FL lens and also the 7.5mm lens. The 17mm lens is also fun.

 

[Nokton48]

The new Canon items just arrived from KEH, and I'm pleased. Put the 28mm F3.5 SLR lens on my Canon P, with the correct filter and W-60B lenshood, and Canon "B" Adapter. And the Canon P 28mm Viewfinder. It works well, just zone-focus and shoot. Plenty of DOF, just not as much as with the 19mm. I like the 35mm F2.5 too, I just have to find a way to keep the lens stopped down. Something jammed in there would do nicely. Like maybe a ball of tinfoil.

Alot of cool stuff (Vintage Canon stuff, too!) for $100.

 

[peterm1]

I have a whole bunch of FL mount lenses (which I prefer due to their build quality over the later Canon lenses epscially as I have a soft spot for vintage gear.) I also managed to acquire some time ago a FL to Leica Screw mount adapter that with the addition of a Leica Screw to bayonet adapter equips me to use my lenses on a wider range of kit. More recently I have been using them with a further Leica to NEX adapter on a Sony NEX. Works brilliantly and my favourite lens so far is the 58mm f1.2 which due to the focussing aids on the NEX can be focussed accurately and has lovely bokeh. Prior to this I did use some lenses on my Leica M4P - mainly wide angle lenses for zone focussing but I have to say I find the NEX arrangement described above more functional. The Canon FL 28mm f3.5 is quite a nice little lens. It is common and hence cheap to buy and produces quite nice images (although I have never tested them I am happy enough with results.) Likewise the 35mm f2.5 which I also own. I have sometimes been tempted to buy the 19mm but have not done so yet. You mention stopping down of the 35mm lens. I do not have mine in front of me but I seem to recall it has a collar on the lens - turn it one way for manual and the other for auto stop down. Some lenses have a preset arrangement which I find slightly less convenient but which works OK with the NEX etc but you have to remember to change both rcollars if necessary.

 

[PatrickCheung]

I'm more than interested in this... where does one get a Canon B Converter? I've just hit up ebay after reading this thread with no luck...

 

[Nokton48]

Hi Peter,
Glad to hear you like your FL lenses as you do. My 35mm F2.5 does not have the A-M ring that is on my new 28mm F3.5. I wish it had the extra ring. By blocking open the mechanism, I can use the lens in stopdown aperture. Otherwise it is open fully wide all the time.

I do have a Nex3 and Canon Nex Adapter, I will have to try some digital shots with these FL's. I agree the build quality of the FL's is outstanding.

 

[Nokton48]

I'm more than interested in this... where does one get a Canon B Converter? I've just hit up ebay after reading this thread with no luck...

I got mine from KEH in Atlanta for $35. I paid alot more that for my first one, which I did get off Ebay. Maybe somebody here has one for sale?

 

[PatrickCheung]

Humm... I'll go do a search on Keh! 🙂 Thanks!

 

[PatrickCheung]

Ahh man, I've searched Canon Rangefinder, Canon Manual Focus, Leica Screwmount, and Leica M with no results 🙁 boo.

 

[raid]

Adapter B is now high in demand. The Canon FD and FL lenses have also risen in price.

 

[Nokton48]

Patrick,
If you keep looking around, you will find one. It took me a couple of months to get the original proper hoods, original flat filters, converter B, etc. And clean lenses not overpriced. It was worth it. Buy it as you can find it. I found the lenshoods first. 😛


Here's a scruffy 19mm retrofocus FL with the Converter B. Good pix to look at:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-FL-19...18055072?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item5892aedba0

 

[raid]

How would you compare retro to non retro focus lens?

 

[Nokton48]

Today the rain has stopped, so out shootin' with my Canon 7 w/finder coupler, 28mm F3.5 FL Canon lens with Canon flatfront filter and correct W-60-B hood, and Canon P 28mm Viewfinder. Truly Heavy Metal Rig.

The body is loaded with my favorite B&W film, Eastman 5222 Motion Picture Film. This is a great combination for sunny-16 photography. And the 28mm FL balances perfectly on the big Canon 7. Set exposure, and focus lens using DOF scale (which I tend to do alot anyway, even with with rangefinder-coupled wideangles), set the distance on the finder, and shoot. Easy and quick to do and fun to use.

 

[peterm1]

This is an Fl mount 35mm f2.5 that I mounted on my Canon IVSb with a Braun turret finder. I think it all looks rather impressive.